Christina Massos, Executive Assistant to the Board and Mette Blackmore, Group HR Director at Acorn Property Group have helped construct much-needed classrooms at a school in Cambodia in partnership with charity ActionAid.
Originally built from wood and tin, the classrooms at Put Tream Primary School in Pursat, Western Cambodia, were not fit for purpose and at risk of exposure to the elements. Christina and Mette spent 10 days alongside ActionAid’s in-country staff, helping to create a new block of rooms where local children can learn in a safe, comfortable environment.
“It’s so important that education is made easily accessible to children. By helping to provide these much-needed new classrooms, we hope our efforts will contribute to helping break the cycle of poverty in the local area,” said Mette.
Christina added: “We’ve made so many new friends and have created some wonderful memories on our trip and, while the work was tough, it was an incredibly rewarding project to support.”
Originally planned for 2020 and delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the trip follows Christina and Mette’s visit to Rwanda in 2018, where they worked with ActionAid to build new classrooms at an overcrowded school. Their work there also included the creation of a new garden where the children grow fresh fruit and vegetables.
ActionAid is an international organisation that works with women and girls living in poverty and Acorn has been supporting the charity since 2018. The company’s support has included fundraising events and each Acorn region has sponsored a child in need.
“We’re always keen to encourage our team members to support charity initiatives and, as a company that focuses on creating new developments that fit local community needs, the opportunity for two of our colleagues to take part in the hands-on construction for such an important project that directly helps a community like this is something we’re happy to support,” said Melanie Omirou, Executive Group Managing Director at Acorn.
Christina and Mette have so far raised £8,711 to support the project in Cambodia and there’s still time to donate to the cause at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/metteandchris